Duplicating machine housing structure



22, 1957 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 2,778,300

' DUPLICATING MACHINE HOUSING STRUCTURE Filed July 29, 1953 Inventor's WILHELM RITZERFELD AND GRHARD Riv-2e:

RFELD DUPLICATlNG MACHINE HOUSING STRUCTURE Wilhelm Ritzerfeld, Berlin-Dahlem, and Gerhard Ritzerfeld, Berlin-Grunewald, Germany Application July 29, 1953, Serial No. 371,104

4 Claims. (Cl. 101-1325) The present invention relates to duplicating machines and more particularly to a portable duplicating machine having a simple and rigid housing structure.

It is one object of the present invention to provide in a duplicating machine a combined housing and feed table structure in which the feed table required for supporting copy sheets also serves for reinforcing the side walls of the housing.

It is another object of the present invention to combine a feed table with the bottom wall and a front wall of the housing in a single structural element of great rigidity to which the side walls are secured.

It is a further object of the present invention to use the bottom wall of the housing as a receiving table for printed copy sheets.

It is a still further object of the present invention to hold a master sheet to a duplicating cylinder by means of a rod which connects the side walls of the housing and reinforces the same.

It is yet another object of the present invention to attach a closure means at one end to the rear end of the bottom wall of the housing and at the other end thereof to the front wall of the housing so that upon removal of the closure means the machine is easily accessible for operation, while the closed machine may be carried.

With these objects in veiw the present invention mainly consists in a combined housing and feed table structure for a duplicating machine, comprising in combination, a main structure composed of a bottom wall portion having a front end, a front wall portion extending upwardly from the front end of the bottom wall portion and having a top end, and a feed table wall portion extending rearwardly from the top end of the front wall portion above the bottom wall portion and adapted to support copy sheets, the wall portions having lateral edges, and a pair of upright side walls secured to the lateral edges of the wall portions.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a cross-sectional view through a rotary duplicating machine according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line A-B in Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on line C-D in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, between the side walls 1 of the housing of the duplicating machine, a transverse main structure 2, 3, 3' is arranged which consists of a single sheet bent to form a horizontal bottom wall portion 3, an arcuate front wall portion 3', and a feed table wall portion 2 which is slightly downwardly and rearwardly inclined. Downwardly bent flanges 2 of the feed table portion 2 2,778,300 Patented Jan. 22, 1957 are secured by bolts and nuts 2" to the side walls 1, while the lower end of the side walls are provided with flanges 1 which are secured to the bottom wall portion 3 of the main structure. A duplicating cylinder 4 rotated by means of the hand crank 5, is fixedly secured to the shaft 5 which is rotatably mounted on the side walls 1. Copy sheets 11 are moved over the feed table 2 toward the duplicating cylinder 4 and are engaged by a pressure roller 7 which is rotatably mounted on a pair of levers 8 which have rearwardly and downwardly inclined guiding top edges 24. The levers 8 are mounted on the side walls pivotable about the pivot pins 9 so that by turning the adjusting screw 10 the levers 8 are upwardly pivoted and urge the pressure roller 7 into engagement with the duplicating cylinder 4 whereby the pressure roller 7 is rotated. Copy sheets 11 engaged between the duplicating roller 4 and the pressure roller 8 pass between the same and are pressed against the master sheet 23 which carries the text to be printed in negative.

Duplicating machines of this type require moistening of the copy sheet, and for this purpose a moistening device 13 including a moistened pad 14 is provided. The moistening device 13 is mounted pivotable about pins 12 which are secured to the side walls and is urged by spring 20 into a moistening position in which the moistening pad 14 slides over and moistens the copy sheet 11 transported by the pressure roller 8 and duplicating cylinder 4. A cam means 15 is secured by screws 15' to the duplicating cylinder 4 and rotates with the same so that during each revolution-the cam portion 18 engages a cam follower roller 17 which is rotatably mounted on a projecting arm 16 which is secured to the moistening device, and is urged by the leaf spring into engagement with the cam 18.

Consequently during each revolution of the duplicating cylinder the moistening device will be pivoted by the cam means 15' 18 into an inoperative position permitting insertion of copy sheets. Shortly before the beginning of the printing, the moistening pad 14 engages the copy sheet.

The master sheet 23 carries the text to be printed in mirror script and is shown in Fig. 1 to have a leading edge engaged in a slot 22 in the duplicating cylinder 4. In order to prevent dropping off of the master sheet, a rod 21 is provided which is secured to the side walls of the housing. Rod 21 simultaneously constitutes a reinforcement of the side walls, and supports the other end of the spring 20.

After the printed copy sheet has passed between the cooperating rollers 4 and '7, it slides on the guiding top edges 24 of the lever arms 8 in downward direction until it is engaged by two spaced stop means 26 which force the printed copy sheet downwardly toward the bottom Wall portion 3 where it is deposited. The stop means 26 are secured to and supported by a bar 25 which is secured to the side walls 1. The stop means 26 are spaced from each other a predetermined distance which corresponds to the width of the copy sheets, and are slidable on bar 25 for adjusting such predetermined distance. For certain types of pirnt the master sheet is only used once, and in this event it passes together with the copy sheet onto the guiding top edges 24. However, since the master sheet is of lesser width than the copy sheet, it is not engaged by the stop means 26, but passes onto the receiving means 27 which is also secured to the bar 25.

It is apparent that the main structure of the machine constituted by the bottom wall 3, the front wall portion 3' and the feeding table 2 permits easy access to the machine during operation. When the machine is not used, it is closed by a detachable closure means 28 which has an arcuate shape corresponding to the arcuate free edges 1' of the side walls. At the rear end of the bottom wall portion 3 preferably a hinge pin means 40 is provided into which the hinge member 41, fixedly secured to the closure means 28, is hooked. The closure means 28 can be pivoted into the position shown in Fig. l in which a locking means 30 cooperating with a locking member fil which is secured to the front wall portion 31 locks the closure means 28 to the main structure 2, 3, 3. A handle 29 is secured to the front end of the closure means and permits carrying of the closed machine.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of rotary duplicating machines differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a combined housing and feed table structure for a portable duplicating machine, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without de parting in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a duplicating machine for printing copy sheets, a combined housing and feed table structure, comprising, in combination, a main structure consisting of a single bent sheet composed of a bottom wall portion having a front end and adapted to receive printed copy sheets, a front wall portion extending upwardly from said front end of said bottom wall portion and having a top end, and a feed table wall portion extending rearwardly from said top end of said front wall portion above said bottom wall portion and adapted to support copy sheets, said wall portions having lateral edges; a pair of upright side walls secured to said lateral edges of said wall portions; a duplicating cylinder turnably mounted on and extending between said side walls; means for holding one end of a master sheet on said duplicating cylinder; and a reinforcing rod extending in close proximity to the surface of said duplicating cylinder parallel to said axis of said duplicating cylinder normal to said side walls and being secured to the same for reinforcing said side walls, said reinforcing rod being adapted to hold the master sheet on the duplicating cylinder.

2. In a duplicating machine, a combined housing and feed table structure, comprising, in combination, a main structure consisting of a single bent sheet composed of a bottom wall portion having a rear end and a front end, a front wall portion extending upwardly from said front end of said bottom wall portion and having a top end, and a feed table wall portion extending rearwardly from said top end of said front wall portion above said bottom wall portion and adapted to support copy sheets, said wall portions having lateral edges; a pair of upright side walls fixedly secured to said lateral edges of said bottom Wall portion and of said feed table wall portion to rigidly support said feed table wall portion, said side walls having a pair of free edges extending from said rear end of said bottom wall portion to said top end of said front wall portion; a closure means attached at one end thereof to said rear end of said bottom wall portion, and extending along said free edges of said side walls to said front wall portion; and locking means for locking the other end of said closure means to said front wall portion.

3. In a duplicating machine for printing copy sheets, a combined housing and feed table structure, comprising, in combination, a main structure consisting of a single bent sheet composed of a horizontal bottom wall portion having a rear end and a front end and adapted to receive printed copy sheets, a front wall portion extending upwardly from said front end of said bottom wall portion and having a top end, and a feed table wall portion extending rearwardly from said top end of said front wall portion above said bottom wall portion and adapted to support copy sheets, said wall portions having lateral edges; a pair of upright side walls fixedly secured to said lateral edges of said bottom wall portion and of said feed table wall portion to rigidly support said feed table wall portion, said side Walls having a pair of arcuate free edges extending from said rear end of said bottom wall portion to said top end of said front wall portion; a closure means detachably hinged at one end thereof to said rear end of said bottom wall portion, and extending along said free edges of said side walls to said front wall portion; locking means for locking the other end of said closure means to said front wall portion; and a handle means secured to said other end of said closure means.

4. In a duplicating machine for printing copy sheets, in combination, a main structure composed of a bottom wall portion having a rear end and a front end, a front wall portion extendin upwardly from said front end of said bottom wall portion and having a top end, and a feed table wall portion extending rearwardly from said top end of said front wall portion above said bottom wall portion and being adapted to support copy sheets, said wall portions having lateral edges; a pair of upright side walls secured to said lateral edges of said wall portions and having a pair of arcuate free edges extending from said rear end of saidbottom wall portion to said top end of said front wall portion; a duplicating cylinder turnably mounted on and extending between said side walls; means for holding one end of a master sheet on said cylinder; a reinforcing rod extending in close proximity to the surface of said duplicating cylinder parallel to the axis of said duplicating cylinder and normal to said side walls and being secured to the same for reinforcing said side walls, said reinforcing rod being adapted to hold the master sheet on the duplicating cylinder; an arcuate closure means attached at one end thereof to said rear end of said bottom wall portion and extending along said arcuate free edges of said side walls to said front wall portion; and locking means for locking the other end of said closure means to said front wall portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,216,692 Mestre Oct. 1, 1940 2,271,954 Rockhill Feb. 3, 1942 2,360,015 Rockhill Oct. 10, 1944 2,518,878 Gerlach Aug. 15, 1950 2,536,604- Jagger Jan. 2, 1951 2,588,917 Geib Mar. 11, 1952 2,599,224 Bonsch June 3, 1952 2,632,388 Smith Mar. 24,- 1953 2,658,450 Brown et al Nov. 10, 1953 2,660,112 Delplanque Nov. 24, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,037,682 France Apr. 14, 1951 

